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Maruti Suzuki India has ended the 2015 with a positive note, as its total sales grew by 11 per cent at 1.4 million units in the calendar year, which saw fragmented auto recovery in the country.

The company’s total domestic sales stood at 1,289,128 units during January-December 2015 when compared with 1,152,128 units in the same period previous year. It also reported decent growth in December 2015 with total 13.5 growth in domestic sales at 111,333 units, when compared with December 2014.

Exports also grew strongly on the back of expansion of markets and addition of more models in its export portfolio. Total exports in 2015 stood at 126,430 units as against 118,445 units in 2014, posting a rise of six per cent. Thus, overall sales for 2015 stood at 1,415,558 units, its highest ever annual volumes.

The company has termed 2015 as the year of transformation for Maruti Suzuki. While it set up an exclusive dealer network under Nexa brand to sell premium cars, the year also saw Maruti introducing its auto gear shift (AGS) technology in the entry level models and followed it up by offering ABS and dual airbags in base variants of popular models on the back of growing awareness for safety contents in cars.

“The company has consciously added one of the convenience technologies to its models in the portfolio. For entry segment, it has focused on adding AGS ( Wagon R, Celerio & Alto K-10), for higher segments like Baleno there’s CVT (continuously variable transmission) , while AT (automatic transmission) powers for brands like Ciaz, Ertiga, Dzire & Ritz,” said R.S. Kalsi, Executive Director - (Marketing & Sales) Maruti Suzuki India.

Apart from safety contents, the company also expanded infotainment technology and introduced Apple car play systems first in India on Baleno. Ciaz, Ertiga are also all equipped with car play systems.

“2015 turned out to be the year of a slow and fragmented recovery in the Indian automotive market. The key drivers for the market included low fuel prices and declining interest rates. However, the lower rural demand on the account of adverse climatic conditions proved to be an inhibitor,” Vinay Raghunath, Partner-Automotive Practice, EY India, said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/business/Ind...cle8054705.ece

[virgopal]

Maruti Suzuki Alto becomes first car in India to cross 3 million mark
The car had overtaken Maruti 800 last year by crossing the 28 lakh mark

Breaking old records and creating some new ones in the course, the Maruti Suzuki Alto has crossed the 30 lakh (3 million) unit mark to become the first vehicle in India to do so. The Alto is now the highest-selling car in Indian automotive history and the journey has been a humble yet remarkably speedy one, ever since it was first launched in India in the year 2000.

The Alto was initially introduced as a sidekick of the Maruti 800 that used to be the face of the Indian manufacturer back then. But gradually and silently, the Alto kept climbing up the ladder, thanks to many substantial updates that were given to it over the years.

Its first real major upgrade came as recent as 2012 when the new Alto 800 was launched in India. The Alto 800 was followed by the more powerful Alto K10 which made its way to India in October 2014 with a 1000cc engine. The Alto K10 currently is also available with an AMT automatic gearbox now which makes it very desirable for a female or senior citizen drivers who want a dependable and easy-to-use product.

Maruti Suzki Alto becomes first car in India to cross 3 million unit sales
On this landmark feat, executive director of Maruti Suzuki India CV Raman, said to NDTV, “In an era when the competition was certain and liberalisation was peaking, we had to bring in new products. We brought in the Baleno (sedan), the Wagon-R and the Alto. It was then decided that 'Alto' is a global brand and that it should be established as a brand in India. That was the thought right from the inception.”

It was in November last year that the Alto reached 2.8 million (28 lakh) units, overtaking the Maruti 800 as the highest-selling car in India. However, in the face of competition from many new offerings like the Renault Kwid and Maruti cousins like the Baleno at present, it remains to be seen for how long the highest-selling car in India continues to dominate the market. Till then, we raise a toast to its unprecedented success in the country!
Source:http://www.zigwheels.com/news-featur...on-mark/24823/